Printing-plate holder.



in. 673,485. Patented May 7, l90l.

E. n. swam.

PRINTING PLATE HOLDER.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN R. STORM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRINTING-PLATE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,485, dated May 7, 1901'.

Application filed October 8, 1900. Serial No. 32,440. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN R. STORM, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Plate Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in holders for printing-,platessuch, for example, as electrotype-plates, stereotype-plates, and original half-tones; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a printingplate holder that may be inserted and secured in a slotted block at any point of the slot; second, to afford facilities for quickly adj usting the plates to accurate and perfect register and to reliably secure them to the block for printing, and, third, to provide a means for removingthe plates after printing. I attain these objects by means of the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an oblique projection showing the block with a plate secured thereon by the clamps. Fig. 2 is an isometrical projection of a plate-clamp, showing the base-piece, the face-piece, the set-screw, and the adjustingscrew. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the base-piece, showing the hole for the set-screw, the slot for the face-piece, and the inclined plane against which works the adj usting-screw. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the base-piece, showing the hole for the setscrew placed below the slot 13. Fig. 5 is a vertical projection of the facepiece, showing the adjusting-screw slightly projecting from the portion 16. Fig. 6 is a section of a base-piece having both sides inclined to fit the grooves in the block and the set-screw placed soas to bear on the bottom of the groove. Fig. 7 is a section showing a groove of the block with the base-piece of a plate-clamp secured therein. Fig. 8 is a section of a plate-clamp, showing the inclined plane and the adj usting-screw bearing thereon. Fig. 9 is a plan of the face-piece, showing the portion 16 and the adjusting-screw. Fig. 10 is an oblique projection of an altered form of the plate-clamp, showing the basepiece and face-piece thereon. Fig. 11 is a plan of the base-piece, showing the hole for the set-screw, the groove 13, and the hole for the adjusting-screw. Fig. 12 is a section showing the base piece with a face-piece thereon and theadjusting-screw workingin the base-pieceand against an inclined plane formed in the face-piece. Fig. 13 is a vertical projection of the face-piece illustrated in Fig. 10, showing the portion 16 and the fin 20. Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the basepiece, showing the face-piece thereon held to place by the fin fitted to the undercut portion of the rib.

Similarfigures refer to similar-parts throughout the several views.

The block 1, of any desired size, is provided with the grooves 2, formed with the lower portion. wider than the upper by the inclined sides 3 3, Figs. 1 and 7, which is the same construction as is now in common use. The plates 4 are held to the block 1 by means of plate-clamps 5, (see Fig. 1,) each of'which consists of a base-piece 6, having a set-screw 7, and a face-piece 8, provided with an adjusting-screw 9. (See Fig. 2.) The base-piece 6, of a thickness approximately equal to the depth of the groove and of a width equal to,

the top of the groove, is formed with its opposite sides parallel, having the top 10 parallel to the top of the block 1 and the sides 11 and 11' making the same angle therewith as the side 3 makes with the top of the said block 1. (See Fig. 7.) In the base-piece 6 are formed the threaded hole 12 and the groove 13, Figs.'2, 3, and 4. The threaded hole 12, to which is fitted the set-screw 7, is countersunk at 14 to permit the head of the set-screw 7 to pass below the plane of the top of the block 1. The groove 13, formed so as to be perpendicular to the edge of the plate 4 when the base-piece 6 is secured in the groove 2, is made wider at the bottom than at the top and has a portion of its bottom removed to form the inclined plane 15, against which bears the adjusting-screw 9. (See Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 8.) The face-piece 8 is formed with a portion 16, which is fitted to slide in the groove 13, and a holding-catch 17, which extends above the top plane of the block 1. (See Figs. 2, 5, and 9.) The holding-catch 17 is provided with a beveled edge 18 formed to be parallel to the edge of the plate 4 when in use and adapted to bear against the edge of the said plate and hold it securely to the block 1, Figs. 1 and 8. In the face-piece 8 is formed the threaded hole 19, to which is fitted the adj Listing-screw 9, the hole 19 being countersunk, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 8, to permit the head of the adjusting-screw 9 to be below the top of the holding-catch 17 at all points of its adjustment.

The adjusting to register and holding to position of aplate on the block by means of the plate-clamps is as follows: The plate 4 having been laid on the block 1 in its approximate position, the base-piece 6 is inserted in the groove 2. This may be readily accomplished by holding the side 11, having the obtuse angle at the top, against the side 3, the sides 11 and 11' being parallel and no farther apart than the top width of the groove permits the insertion. Moving the plate-clamp 5 as near the plate 4: as desired, the base-piece 6 is secured to the block 1 by turning the setscrew 7 until its extremity bears against the side 3 of the groove 2, as in Fig. 7, forcing the side 11 against the side 3 and clamping it thereto. The face-piece 8,working toward or away from the edge of the plate 4in a plane parallel to the top of the block by means of the portion 16, which is fitted to slide in the groove 13 and isheld therein by the inclined sides of the said groove, is now moved by means of the adj usting-screw9,working in the threaded hole 19 and bearing against the inclined plane 15, toward the plate 4, forcing the beveled edge 18 of the holding-catch 17 against the edge of the said plate, moving it to the desired position and clamping it securely to the block 1. Turning the adjusting-screw 9 so as to force it farther into the hole 19 forces the holding-catch 17 toward the edge of the plate t, thus tightening the clamp, While turning the screw in an opposite direction permits the holding-catch 17 to be moved away from the edge of the said plate, thus loosening the clamp.

In practice the plate-clamps are placed on all edges of the plates, and the operations I have described in placing and adjusting one would be done to each, and in adjusting a plate it would only be necessary to turn the adj Listing-screws 9 in the plate-clamps along one side and end of the plate, so as to allow the holding-catch to move away from the edge of the plate, and then to turn the adjustingscrews in the corresponding plate -clamps along the other side, end, or side and end, so as to force them farther into the holes 19, when the advancing edge of the holdingcatch 17, hearing against the edge of the plate,would push the plate and loosened facepieces on the opposite edge to the desired position, when the first loosened face-pieces may be caused to bring their holding-catches against the edge of the plate by means of their adjusting-screws, thus gripping the plate between the holding-catches of opposing clamps and holding it firmly to the block.

When it is desired to place two clamps within the same groove and yet place the plates 4 close together, base-pieces having the set-screw in front of the slot 13, as shown in Fig. 3, may be used. This would bring the set-screw 7 under the plate and the base pieces would therefore have to be secured to place in the slots before the plates were laid on the blockQ In Fig. 6 I have shown a sectional view of a base-piece having its sides 11 formed to fit the groove 2 and the set-screw 7 bearing against the bottom of the said groove and forcing the portion of the base-piece containing the screw 7 away from the bottom of the said groove and bringing the inclined sides of the base-piece to bear forcibly against the inclined sides of the groove, thus holding the base-piece firmly to place inthe groove. A face-piece with a holding-catch maybe formed integrally with the base-piece or mounted adj ustably thereon.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12,13, and 14 I have shown another form of the plate-clamp in which the groove 13 is formed lengthwise of the basepiece 6 (see Fig. 1l)'a nd the adjusting-screw 9 works in a threaded hole 19 in the said basepiece. (See Figs. 11 and 12.) The portion 16 is fitted to slide in the groove 13 and bear against the side 3 of the groove 2. The inclined plane 15 is formed in the face-piece 8. (See Fig. 12.) The fin 20, formed on the facepiece 8, is fitted to and bears against the undercut side of the rib 13 and serves to hold the face-piece on the base -piece when the clamp is not in use. (See Figs. 13 and 14.) The portion 21 receives the thrust of the adjusting-screw 9; but it could be omitted to save space.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves adapted to receive and hold one or more plate-clamps and adjustable plate clamps, held in the grooves each having a holding-catch, and means, as a screw, adapted to force the holding-catch against the edge of the printingplate, move the said printing-plate over limited distances and hold the said printing-plate securely to the said block at any point of such limited distances.

2. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves adapted to receive and hold one or more plate-clamps and adjustable plate clamps held in the grooves each carrying a holding-catch, a setscrew, adapted to secure the said plate-clam ps in the grooves and means as a screw adapted to force the holding-catch against the edge of the printing-plate, move the said printingplate over limited distances while the plateclamp is secured to the groove, and hold the said printing-plate securely to the said block at anypoint of such limited distances.

3. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and adjustable plate-clamps adapted to be inserted in the said grooved block at any point of 4. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and adjustable plate-clamps having a base-piece adapted to be secured in the grooves and a face-piece Working adjustably upon the basepiece adapted to move the printing-plate over limited distances and hold the said printingplate securely to the said block at any point of such limited distances.

5. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and plate-clamps having a base-piece adapted to be inserted and held in the said grooves, a setscrew working in said base-piece and a facepiece working upon the base-piece adapted to adjust and hold the printing-plate.

6. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and plate-clamps having a base-piece adapted to be inserted in said grooves, a set-screw adaptedto hold the base-piece rigidly in the said grooves,a face-piece working adj ustably upon the base-piece and an adj usting-sorew for controlling the face-piece.

7. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and plate-clamps having a base-piece adapted to be inserted in and bear against a side of said grooves, a set-screw working in the base-piece and a face-piece working adjustably on the base-piece.

8. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part, and plate'clamps having a base-piece adapted to be held in and bear against the sides of the said grooves, a set-screw adapted to force and hold the base-piece rigidly against the sides of the groove and a holding-catch on the basepiece.

9. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and plate-clamps each of said clamps having a base-piece with one side conforming to a side of the groove and its opposite side formed to admit the insertion of the said base-piece in the groove, means, as a set-screw for holding the base-piece in the groove and a face-piece working adjustably on the base-piece.

10. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of ablock having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and plate-clamps each of said clamps having a base-piece with one side conforming to a side of the groove and its opposite side formed to admit the insertion of the base-piece'in the groove, a set-screw adapted to hold the basepiece rigidly in the groove, a groove formed in the base-piece a face-piece having a member adapted to slide in the groove in the said base-piece and an adjusting-screw for controlling the face-piece.

11. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block having grooves of greater width at the lower than at the upper part and plate-clamps each of said clamps having a base-piece with one side conforming to a side of the groove and its opposite side formed to admit the insertion of the base-piece in the groove, a set-screw adapted to hold the base piece rigidly in the groove, a groove formed in the base-piece, a face-piece having a member adapted to slide in the groove in the said base-piece, a holding-catch formed on the face-piece and adapted to bear against and hold the plate securely to the block and an adj usting-screw for controlling the face-piece.

12; In a holder for printing-plates a plateclam p having a base-piece with a groove and an inclined plane formed therein, a set-screw working in the'said base-piece, a face-piece having a member adapted to slide within said groove in the base-piece and an adjustingscrew for controlling the face-piece.

13. In a holder for printing-plates a plateclamp having a base-piece with a groove of greater width at its lower than its upper part, a face-piece having a member adapted to slide in the groove, a set-screw working in the said base-piece and adapted to hold it rigidly to place, an adjusting-screw working within the said face-piece and an inclined plane.

14. In a holder for printing-plates a plateclamp having a base-piece with a groove of greater width at its lower than its upper part, a face-piece having a member adapted to slide in the groove, a holding-catch formed on the said face-piece and adapted to bear against the edge of a printing-plate means as a set-screw for holding the base-piece rigidly to place, an inclined plane and an adjustingscrew adapted to bear against the inclined plane and control the face-piece.

15. In a holder for printing-plates the combination of a block 1 having grooves 2 and plate-clamps 5 each of said plate-clamps having a base-piece 6 with a groove 13 and an inclined plane 15 formed therein a set-screw 7 a face-piece 8 having the member 16 fitted to slide in the groove 13 and formed with the holding-catch 17 having the beveled edge 18 and the adjusting-screw 9 substantially as described.

: EDWIN R. STORM. Witnesses:

HENRY PALMER, J. OSCAR BUNCE. 

